That has changed. The Rangers put a starting pitcher on the disabled list for the fourth time since May 19 on Tuesday. Right-hander Colby Lewis will be out until after the All-Star break because of forearm tendinitis.

Daniels said the Rangers expect Lewis to return after the All-Star break, which runs from July 2-5. Lewis had a similar condition in 2008 while pitching in Japan and missed about three weeks.

Lewis had trouble with the forearm in the final two innings of a start against Houston on June 17. The condition persisted in his start against Colorado on Saturday. Lewis had difficulty getting loose and allowed eight runs in four innings during his shortest start of the season.

Lewis volunteered to stay active and miss only one start. The club decided to be more cautious.

“I pride myself on my durability, but this is one of those situations where I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Lewis said. “I don’t want to push the issue and not be there for these guys at the end of the year.”

Right-hander Scott Feldman, the staff swing-man, will make the two starts that were scheduled for Lewis before the break. The first start will be Thursday against Oakland.

Left-hander Derek Holland and right-handers Neftali Feliz and Alexi Ogando have also gone on the disabled list in the last six weeks. Feliz and Holland were in the season-opening five-man rotation.

Holland is the closest to return. He will make an injury-rehabilitation start with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. The club had planned on having Holland make three starts in the minors and return to the rotation after the All-Star break. Daniels said the club’s situation could make the Rangers limit to two rehab starts, but the preference is for three.

“It is a test,” Daniels said of the rash of injuries to pitchers. “We tried to build as much depth as we could through promotions and the signing of Roy (Oswalt.) At this point, we’re real glad to have those guys.”

The Rangers promoted left-hander Martin Perez from Triple-A Round Rock to replace Lewis on the roster. Perez, considered a top prospect, had emerged from a season-long funk in his last two starts, but the promotion was based on need as much as performance. The Rangers needed a fresh arm for the bullpen, which had worked 19 1/3 innings in the previous four games.

Perez and right-hander Justin Grimm, who lasted only one inning in a loss to Detroit on Monday, are candidates to start on Saturday against Oakland. The decision will hinge on how the Rangers use the bullpen in the next three games.